Electrical detector base



Oct. 13, 1942.. E A. FERRls y 2,298,689

ELECTRICAL DETECTOR BASE INVENTOR. Y Ahtoff/ @nf/.3' jj, M 9 1w Arr Oct. 13, 1942. A. FERRls I 2,298,689 ELECTRIGAL DETECTOR BASE lFiled June 19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'will'v Patented Oct. 13, 1942 UNITED STATES iTiriT @i351 CE.

ELECTRICAL DETECTOR. BASE Anthony Ferris, New York, N. Y.

` Applicationl June 19, 1940, Serial No. 341,310

8` Claims.

This invention relates to an improved electrical detector base. The invention will bebestA understood from the accompanying description and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation in section along lines I-I of Fig. 2 of a base embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View in partial section of a base as shown in Fig. 1`.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic wiring circuit for the base.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged viewin partial section of the circuit closing device as shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, there is an enclosure sunk into the ground. This enclosure has sides I0, a floor II, and' isopen at its top to receive a combined base and detector'unit I2.

The base and detector unit I 2 consists of a supporting frame I3 and' a base portion I4. The supporting frame I3 extends into the enclosure and rests on brackets I5 which aresecured to the floor II of the enclosure. The frame I3 also has ears I6 secured to it which overhang and rest on the upper edges of the sides Il) of the enclosure. Thus the combined base and detector unit I2v is removably but rmly supported in the enclosure.

In the base I4 there is a frame I1 over which padding I8 is placed, The base extends over the enclosure and is above the level of the ground.

The base I4 is resiliently carried on the supporting frame I3 so that-` downward or lateral movement of the base in relation to the frame is permitted. This oating relation between the base I4 and the frame I3 is obtained by interposing a series of vertical coil springs I3 and a series of horizontal springs 2U between the base I4 and the supporting frame I3.

The coil springs I9 and. 20 are placed around the base I4 and one end of each spring being secured to the base frame I1A and the other end to the supporting framev I3. In theY arrangement illustrated, there are two horizontal springs 2-0 on each side of the base and a vertical spring I9'v at each corner of the base. This arrangement may be varied to suit particular requirements.

Passing centrally through each of the coil springs I9 and 20 there is a plunger 2| secured tothe base frame I1 and movable therewith. These plungers also project through appropriate openings in the supporting frame I3 and these openings are of suilicient size to permit the 'r` movement of certain of the plungers laterally of the frame I3 when other plungers are moved inwardly of the frame I3 depending upon the direction in which the base is moved.

When a' plunger 2| is moved inwardly of the 55 supporting frame I3 by movement of the baseV I4 itV operates a circuit closing mechanism. The circuit closing mechanisms are mounted on the supporting frame I3 so that each of the mechani'sms is in a position to be operated by an appropriate plunger 2|.

The operation of one of the circuit closing mechanisms is describedr as follows: When a plunger 2| moves inwardly of the frame I3, a lug 23 carried on the plunger engages with a resiliently held rod 24 and depresses it. This rod 24 carries a lug 33 which in turn engages with and depresses a contact carrying spring 25. The spring 25 mounted on a supporting bracket 22 carries a rod-like member intermediate its ends. A contact 21 is carried at the end of this rodlikefmember and a second contact 26 is mounted on the frame below the rst-mentioned contact 21. When the spring 25 is depressed, the rodlike member and contact 21 move downwardly so thatV contacts 26 and 21 are closed, completing an electrical circuit which causes the Operation of an electrical signalling device. The electrical signalling device illustrated is a single acting gong 28.

The closing of the contacts 26 and 21 is instantaneous in response to movement of the base I4. The spring 25 has a downwardly sloping cammed surface at 34 which is engaged by the lug 33 on the rod 24. When the spring 25 is being depressed the lug 33 rides over the downwardly sloping cammed surface at 34 to a point where the spring 25 escapes from engagement with the lug 33 -and it springs back to its initial position. Thus after the contacts 26 and 21 have been momentarily closed, the spring 25 is released from engagement with the'lug 33 on the rod 24` and the connection between the contacts 26. and 21 is broken opening the circuitto the signalling device. Thusv the signalling device is maintained in: condition for immediate operation by subsequent movement of the base I4.

The rod 25 is returned to its original position by a return spring 29 when the base I4 is returned to its normal. position. The contacts 26 and 21 of the various circuit closing mechanisms are connected in parallel so that by closing any pair of contacts an electrical circuit causing the operation of the signalling device will be completed.

The gong 28 and a source of electrical energy in the form of a battery 30 are carried'on the supporting frame I 3. However, either or both of these may be located elsewhere if desired. Also carried by the supporting frame I3 there is a master switch 3l for disconnecting the battery 30 from the circuit.

To prevent dirt from entering the enclosure, there is an insert 32 of soft, resilient material such as sponge rubber in the upper edges of the sides l0. This insert 32 goes around the enclosure and projects above the ground level to a point adjacent the under surface of the base i4.

The insert 32, because of its soft, resilient characteristics, does not interfere with downward movement of the base.

In operation, an electrical detector base embodying the invention disclosed herein will give an audible indication whenever physical contact is made with it. This audible indication will be instantaneous and will be a great assistance in the judging of close plays as it will enable the person judging such plays to follow other phases of the play visually when that is necessary or desirable.

I claim:

1. An electrical detector base comprising a supporting frame, a base carried by the frame, a series of vertical coil springs and a series of horizontal coil springs spaced about said base and interposed between the base and the frame permitting downward and lateral movement of the base relative to the frame, an electrical signalling device, a circuit connecting the signalling device to a source of electrical energy, and means for completing the circuit in response to movement of the base.

2. An electrical detector base comprising a supporting frame, a base carried by the frame, a series of vertical coil springs and a series of horizontal coil springs spaced about said base and interposed between the base and the frame permitting downward and lateral movement of the base relative to the frame, an electrical signalling device, a circuit connecting the signalling device to a source of electrical energy, and means for momentarily completing the circuit in response to movement of the base.

3. An electrical detector base comprising a supporting frame, a base carried on the frame, resilient means interposed between the base and the frame permitting downward and lateral movement of the base in relation to the frame, an electrical signalling device, a circuit connecting the signalling device to a source of electrical energy, and means for completing the circuit in response to movement oi the base comprising a plurality of vertically extending plungers and a plurality of horizontally extending plungers spaced around and carried by the base, circuit closing devices operable by the plungers when the base is moved.

4. An electrical detector base comprising a supporting frame, a base carried by the frame, a series of vertical coil springs and a series of horizontal coil springs spaced about said base and interposed between the base and the frame permitting downward and lateral movement of the base relative to the frame, an electrical signalling device, a circuit connecting the signalling device to a source of electrical energy, and means for completing the circuit comprising a plurality of vertically extending plungers and a plurality of horizontally extending plungers spaced about and carried by the base, circuit closing devices arranged so that at least one of the circuit closing devices will be engaged and operated by one of the plungers when the base is moved.

5. An electrical detector base comprising a supporting frame, a base carried by the frame, a series of vertical coil springs and a series of horizontal coil springs spaced about said base and interposed between the base and the frame permitting downward and lateral movement of the base relative to the frame, an electrical signalling device, a circuit connecting the signalling device to a source of electrical energy, and means for momentarily completing the circuit comprising a plurality of vertically extending plungers and a plurality of horizontally extending plungers spaced about and carried by the base, circuit closing devices arranged so that at least one of the circuit closing devices will be engaged and operated by one of the plungers when the base is moved, and means to operate the circuit closing devices to open the circuit after a predetermined interval.

6. An electrical detector base comprising a fixed supporting frame, a base carried by the frame, resilient means interposed between the base and the frame to permit downward and lateral movement of the base relative to the frame, a single acting electrically operated audible signalling device, a circuit connecting the signalling device to a source of electrical energy, means to close the circuit momentarily in response to movement in any direction of the base relative to the frame.

7. An electrical detector base comprising a supporting frame, a base carried by the frame, resilient means interposed between the base and the frame to permit downward and lateral movement of the base relative to the frame, a single acting electrically operated audible signalling device, a circuit connecting the signalling device to a source of electrical energy, means to momentarily close the circuit in response to movement in any direction of the base relative to the frame comprising a plurality of vertically extending plungers and a plurality of horizontally extending plungers spaced about and carried by the base, circuit closing devices operable by the plungers when the base is moved, and means to open the circuit after it has been closed for a predetermined interval.

8. An electrical detector base comprising a supporting frame fixed in an enclosure, a base carried on the frame and extending over the enclosure, resilient means interposed between the base and the frame Permitting downward and lateral movement of the base in relation to the frame, an electrical signalling device, a circuit connecting the signalling device to a source of electrical energy, circuit closing devices located in the enclosure adapted to close the circuit in response to movement of the base and an insert of soft resilient material surrounding the enclosure and contacting the base to prevent dirt from entering the enclosure.

ANTHONY FERRIS. 

